Compartmented carton



h t -sn 1 H. w. FORRER ARTMENTED lAR sept. 7, 1954 v IINVENTOR. MER W FE Filed Aprilv 13, 1953 TTOWVEVS Sept. 7, 1954 H. w. FORRER COMFARTMENTED CARTON 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April l5, 1953 JNVEN TOR. HOME/P w. FOR/YM VBY Sept', 7, 1954 H. W. FORRER COUPARTMENTED CARTON Enea Apri; 1s, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. #anw/v nf' roma-n TTRNEYJ Filed April 1:5. 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. IMMER w. FORMER mffK-M Patented Sept. 7, 1954 COMPARTMENTED CARTON Homer W. Forrer, Atlanta, Ga.,

Atlanta Paper Company,

Georgia assigner to a corporation of Application April 13, 1953, Serial No. 348,284

6 Claims.

This invention relates in general to compartmented cartons, and in particular to an improved structural arrangement for a carton of this sort adapted especially for carrying bottles and other similar containers.

The carton structure of the present invention is characterized particularly by exceptional strength against the severe endwise pressure that is normally encountered during shipment of loaded cartons, and this structure may also be made readily collapsible and provides for utilizing boxboard with a minimum of waste in forming the carton.

These and other features of the present invention are described in detail below in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a compartmented carton constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe carton shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken (on a reduced scale) substantially at the line 3--3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken (on a reduced scale) substantially at the line 4 4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a further transverse section taken (on a reduced scale) substantially at the line 5--5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the form of blank used according to the present invention for forming the carton shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the glue application for the first carton forming folding Step being indicated by stipling;

Fig. 7 is a plan View showing the blank of Fig. 6 after completion of the first carton forming folding step, and with the glue application for the Second folding step indicated by stipling;

Fig. 8 is a plan View showing the blank of Fig. 6 after completion of the second carton forming folding step, and with the glue application for the third folding step indicated by stipling;

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the blank of Fig. 6*

after completion of the third carton forming L folding step, and with the glue application for the final carton forming folding step indicated by stipling; and

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the completed carton in collapsed position, following the final carton forming folding step, and ready for erection to the form shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a carton embodying the present invention `as comprising a medial handle portion I9', opposed pairs of end wall panels I2 and I4 foldably joined at'the ends of the handle portion IIJ, opposed side walls I6 and I8 foldably connected between the outer edges of the end wall panel pairs I2 and I4, and a bottom wall panel 20 foldably connected between the bottom edges of the side wall panels I6 and I8, with transverse partition elements 22,

24, 2B and 28 (compare Fig. 2) foldably connected between the handle portion Ill and the respective side wall panels i6 and I8 to form three compartments along the side walls IB and I8 at each side of the handle portion I0.

Fig. 2 illustrates further the medial arrangement of the handle portion ID and shows the disposition of the transverse partitions 22, 24, 2B and 28 extending therefrom for .connection to the respective side walls I6 and I8 by attachment flaps at 22', 24', 26 and 28', respectively.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show the completely compartmented arrangement of the carton according to the present invention; that is, the manner in which the handle portion I and transverse partitions 22, 24, 26 and 28 are substantially coextensive in height with the side walls I6 and I8 and end wall pairs I2 and I4, so as to provide complete separation between bottles disposed in the carton compartments. Also, Figs. 3, 4 and 5 indicate the multi-ply structure of the handle portion I0 by which the endwise carton strength, previously referred to above, is obtained. This feature of the present invention is of particular advantage because ithas been found to be the endwise pressure on the loaded cartons during shipment that causes the greatest trouble with breakage and other damage to the bottle load in the course of shipment. The handle portion ID provided for the carton of the present invention is particularly arranged to afford unusual strength against this endwise pressure, while still requiring no more than a usual amount of boXboard for the carton, as will appear from the following explanation of the step by step procedure employed in forming the carton.

Fig. 6 shows the form of blank, made of boxboard or the like, that is used according to the present invention for forming a carton such as is shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. As shown, the bottom wall panel 26 is arranged at a generally central position in the blank, and is formed with a medial fold line as at 30 by which it is rendered collapsible. The side wall panels I6 and I8 are foldably connected, as previously mentioned, along each side edge of the bottom wall 20 at fold lines 32 and 34, and one end wall panel of each pair I2 and I4 is foldably connected at the end edges of each side wall I6 and I8 along fold lines 36 and 38, and 46 and 42, respectively, the end panels of. each pair I2 and I4 having a width corresponding to half the width of the bottom wall 20 so that these pairs of panels I2 and I4 are proportioned to extend from the side walls I6 and I8 and meet medially of the carton at the handle portion Ill as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

It should be noted especially at this point in considering the form of blank shown in Fig. 6 that the previously mentioned transverse partitions 22, 24, 26- and 28 are displaced in the blank from the elements just described above, for it is the manner in which these partitions are provided for, in combination with the provision for the handle portion I6, that affords the exceptional strength in the handle portion Il]v and allows the substantial economy to be obtained in the use of boxboard for the blank, as previously pointed out above.

As shown in Fig. 6, the transverse partitions 22, 24, 26 and 28 constitute elements of partition forming means arranged to form the carton compartments. Three of these partition forming means (i. e., those incorporating the transverse partition elements 24, 26 and 28) are arranged as substantially symmetrical extensions connected directly with three of the end Wall panels of the pairs I2 and I4; while the fourth partition forming means (i e., the one incorporating the transverse partition element 22) is provided as an auxiliary portion of the handle portion I6, the handle portion I8, rather than the fourth partition forming means, being directly connected with the fourth end Wall panel.

Speciiically, the three more or less symmetrically arranged partition forming means are shown in Fig. 6 to comprise a first extension panel 44 or 46 or 48 foldably joined along fold llines 56, 52 or 54 tov three of the end wall panels I2 or I4, as previously mentioned, and along fold lines 56, 58 o1 66 to the three previously mentioned transverse partitions 24, 26 or 28. The three partition forming means constituted in this Way are referred to above as being symmetrical because they -are in substance, except for an extending tab portion 44 on the extension panel 44 (and a corresponding cutout in panel 48 resulting from nesting of the blanks as pointed out further below) that is employed in the course of forming the handle portion I0, as will be explained presently; and except for locking notches 62 and 64 formed at the bottom edges of extension panels 44 and 48 for the purpose of locking the collapsible bottom wall 20 in place when the carton is erected (compare Fig. 3). Otherwise, these three partition forming means are substantially symmetrical in form, and it should be noted that they are entirely symmetrical in function, each of the extension panels 44, 46 and 48 serving as medial partition elements that are secured to the medial handle portion I and from which the transverse partition elements 24, 26 and 28 extend to the side walls I6 and I8 for forming carton compartments.

As to the fourth partition forming means referred to above as an auxiliary part of the handle portion Ill, it should be noted first from Fig. 6 that this handle portion II] comprises a iirst handle panel 66, a second handle panel 68, and a third handle Ipanel 1D. The first handle panel 66 is foldably joined directly to the remaining end wall panel I2 along a fold line 12; the second handle panel 68 is foldably joined at the top or outer edge of the first panel 66 along a fold line 4 'I4 running at right angles to the first panel fold line 12; and the third handle panel 'I8 is foldably joined tothe rst panel 66 along a fold line 16 aligned with the rst panel fold line 12, and is made intermediately foldable by a fold line 'I8 therein aligned with the second panel fold line 14. By this arrangement, the second panel 68 is disposed so that it may be folded and secured in face to face contact with the first panel 66, and the third panel 'I0 may be intermediately doubled over and secured to both the first and second panels 66 and 66, to form the basis for the sturdy handle portion I0 characterizing the carton structure of lthe present invention. In this connection, it should be noted that the third handle panel 'I0 is proportioned with a length corresponding to the overall carton length, while the rst and second handle panels 66 and 68 have a length only about two-thirds that of the carton length, the first handle panel 66 having a foldable tab portion 66 by which it is secured to the extension panel 44 at the other end of the carton, and the extending tab portion 44' of the extension panel 44 being secured between the doubled portions of the third handle panel 10, as will appear from the description below of the Asteps followed in forming the carton structure from the blank.

The fourth partition forming means is foldably joined as an auxiliary part of the handle portion I6, and as a counterpart of the three previously mentioned symmetrical partition forming means, along a fold line at the bottom or inner edge of the first handle panel 66, this fold line 88 being restricted to the width of a medial partition element 82 to which the fourth transverse partition 22 is foldably joined along a fold line 84 with the transverse partition 22 free of any direct connection with the rst handle panel 66. With this arrangement it should be noted that there is a substantially complete use of boxboard at the left hand portion of the blank as seen at Fig. 6, while the right hand portion may be inverted perfectly for aligned nesting (as indicated by a dotted outline and cross hatching in Fig. 6) to leave only an exceedingly small amount of waste. r

As to the carton forming steps, it will be seen from Fig. 7 that the medial partition element 82, with the transverse partition 22, is first folded up about the fold line 80 and secured in face to face contact with the first handle panel 66 (by the glue application shown in Fig. 6), and the left hand portions of the blank are folded over to the right about the fold lines 52, I2 and 'I6 and secured, and then the transverse partitions 24 and 28 at the right are folded over to the left about fold lines 56 and 60, after which further glue applications are made as shown to the attaching flap portions 24', 28 and 66.

In Fig. 8 it will be seen that the right hand portions are next folded over to the left about fold lines 38 and 42; then a glue application is made as shown in Fig. 8 so that the second and third handle panels 68 and I0 may be folded downwardly about the fold lines 'I4 and "I8 as in Fig. 9, and a nal glue application made as shown; and nally the bottom portion is folded upwardly about the bottom wall medial fold line 30 to complete the carton of the present invention in collapsed position as shown in Fig. 10.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limited by this description `or otherwise except as dened by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A compartmented carton of the type adapted for carrying bottles and other similar containers, said carton including a bottom wall, opposed side walls on said bottom wall, opposed pairs of end wall panels at the ends of said side walls, and a medial handle portion, said handle portion comprising a first handle panel on one of said end Wall panels, a second handle panel foldably joined at the top edge of said first panel and disposed in face to face contact therewith, a third handle panel foldably joined at a side edge portion of said first handle panel adjacent said end wall panel, said third handle panel being intermediately foldable and being doubled over said first and second handle panels, and an auxiliary panel means foldably joined at the bottom edge of said first handle panel and disposed as acompartment partition between said handle portion and the side wall carrying said end wall.

2. A blank of boxboard or the like for forming a collapsible compartmented carton, said blank being cut and scored to denne a medially foldable bottom wall, opposed side walls foldably joined thereto, opposed pairs of end wall panels foldably joined at the ends of said side Walls, substantially symmetrical partition extensions foldably joined to three of said end wall panels, each of said extensions being intermediately foldable for forming a first medial partition panel and a second transverse partition panel, a first handle panel extension foldably joined to the remaining end wall panel, a second handle panel foldably joined at the outer edge of said first handle panel that is disposed at right angles to the folding axis of said rst handle panel on said remaining end Wall, a third handle panel foldably joined to said rst handle panel on an axis common to the folding axis of said first handle panel 1 on said remaining end Wall, said third handle panel being intermediately foldable on an axis common to the folding axis of said second handle panel on said first handle panel, and auxiliary partition panel means including a rst auxiliary medial partition panel foldably joined at the inner edge of said first handle panel adjacent said remaining end wall and a second auxiliary transverse partition panel foldably joined at the outer edge of said rst auxiliary panel.

3. A compartmented carton of the type adapted for carrying bottles and the like, said carton comprising a bottom wall, opposed side walls on said bottom wall, opposed pairs of end walls at the ends of said side Walls, a medial handle portion, and partitions forming three compartments along said side walls on each side of said handle portion; said handle portion including a rst handle panel on one of said end Walls, a second handle panel on said first handle panel at the top edge thereof and folded and secured in face to face contact therewith, and a third handle panel on said rst handle panel at a side edge portion thereof adjacent said end wall panel, said third handle panel being intermediately doubled over and secured to said rst and second handle panels; and said partitions including an auxiliary medial partition panel on said rst handle panel at the bottom edge thereof adjacent said end wall and folded and secured in face to face contact with said iirst handle panel, an auxiliary transverse partition panel on said auxiliary medial panel at the side edge thereof remote from said end wall extending and being secured to the reend wall panels, said extensions being intermediatel'y folded into medial partition portions and transverse partition portions with said medial portions secured to said handle portion and said transverse portions extending and being secured to the related side walls.

` 4. A blank of boxboard or the like for forming a collapsible compartmented carton, said blank being cut and scored to define a medially foldable bottom wall, opposed side Walls foldably joined thereto, opposed pairs of end wall panels foldably joined at the ends of said side walls, compartment partition extensions foldably joined to three of said end wall panels, said extensions being intermediately foldable for forming medial partition and transverse partition portions, a fourth extension including iirst and second medial partition portions one of which portions is foldably joined to the remaining. end wall panel and has the other portion foldably joined thereto at the edge thereof facing the compartment partition extension on the end Wall panel paired with said remaining end wall panel, the first medial partition'portion of said fourth extension being proportioned for securing in face contacting relation with said second medial partition portion and with the medial partition portions of all of said compartment partition extensions, and the second medial partition portion of said fourth extension having a transverse compartment par-- tition portion foldably joined thereto and forming therewith a counterpart of said compartment partition extensions.

5. A blank of boxboard or the like for forming a collapsible compartmented carton, said blank being cut and scored to define a medially foldable bottom wall, opposed side walls foldably joined thereto, opposed pairs of end wall panels foldably joined at the ends of said side Walls, both end wall panels of one of said pairs each having compartment partition extensions foldably joined thereto, said extensions each being intermediately foldable for forming medial partition and transverse partition portions and one of said extensions being internestable in inverted relation between the corresponding partition extensions of a like blank, the end Wall panel of the other of said pairs that is joined to the opposite side wall with respect to said internestable extension having a third substantially identical compartment partition extension foldably joined thereto, and a fourth extension including first and second medial partition portions one of which portions is foldably joined to the remaining end wall panel of said other pair and has the other portion foldably joined thereto at the edge thereof facing the extension on the first mentioned end Wall panel of said other pair, the first medial partition portion of said fourth extension being proportioned for securing in face contacting relation with said second medial partition portion and with the medial partition portions of all of said compartment partition extensions, and the second medial partition portion of said fourth extension having a transverse compartment partition portion foldably joined thereto and forming therewith a counterpart of said compartment partition extensions.

6. A collapsible compartmented carton of the type adapted for carrying bottles and other similar containers, said carton comprising a medially foldable bottom wall, opposed side walls on said bottom wall, opposed pairs of end wall panels extending from said side walls andproportioned to meet midway of the width of said bottom Wall, three of said end Wall panels having compartment partition extensions foldably joined thereon that are foldably secured to the related side walls and intermediately foldable for forming medial partition and transverse partition portions, the remaining fourth end Wall panel having an extension thereon including first and second medial partition portions one of which portions is foldably joined to said fourth end wall panel and has the other portion foldably joined thereto at its bottom edge, the first medial partition portion of said fourth end wall panel extension being secured in face contacting relation at one end of said carton between the second medial partition portion of said extension and the medial partition portion extending from the adjacent paired end wall panel and at the other carton end between the medial partition portions of the compartment partition extensions thereat, the second medial partition portion of said fourth end Wall panel extension having a transverse compartment partition portion foldably` joined thereto and foldably secured to the related side wall as a counterpart of said compartment partition extensions, and the ,one of said rst and second medial partition portions that is foldably joined to said fourth end wall panel being extended upwardly, and having foldably joined thereto on the same folding axis, above said end wall panel a handle panel portion that is intermediately foldable on an axis aligned with the top edge of said upwardly extended medial parttion portion and that is doubled and secured thereover in a length corresponding to the length of said side walls.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,345,746 Goodyear Apr. 16, 1944 2,389,318 Lebold Nov. 20, 1945 2,525,686 Kowal Oct. 10, 1950 2,586,301 Castle s Feb. 19, 1952 2,594,377 Arneson Apr. 29, 1952 2,652,968 Bolding Sept. 22, 1953 2,661,140 Arneson Dec. 1, 1953 

